Most common rider mistakes

[WildKat]

What are the most common mistakes that you see other riders make, while out on the road? Or which have you made yourself, and just cant seem to really correct 100% of the time becuz of bad old habits?

I think turn signals are just one of the big ones..riders not using them at all, or turning them off too soon.

[OtLa]

Falling over.
I hear about alot of people that do it.

[woobie]

Improper lane position is one I see alot.

[JCB]

riding in the blind spot of cages....

[irenekat]

leaving turn signals on

[lopeha]

Not watching far enough ahead to be ready for what is going to happen.

[SweetLou]

Getting a liter bike as your first bike ever.


Oh, and Making Sweet Lou Mad, that is a real BIG mistake!

[soccersteve]

Improper lane position is one I see alot.

i know you're not trying to single anybody out, but i generally ride wehre i feel comfortable in the lane. i don't really care what the books say. i think its a matter of preferance. just my $.02.

[paperairplane]

relying on the rear brake

[arsenic]

Not watching far enough ahead to be ready for what is going to happen.

+1 on that. I think the biggest mistake is not understanding that cages can't see you. Watching other vehicles is the number on thing while riding.

[woobie]

i know you're not trying to single anybody out, but i generally ride wehre i feel comfortable in the lane. i don't really care what the books say. i think its a matter of preferance. just my $.02.

I should have added more to that and added "in moderate to heavy traffic".

[tzortn]

Improper lane position is one I see alot.

i know you're not trying to single anybody out, but i generally ride wehre i feel comfortable in the lane. i don't really care what the books say. i think its a matter of preferance. just my $.02.

I agree to a point. You should ride in the lane where you are comfortable, but you should also realize that certain parts of the lane will not be as visible to the drivers around you.

[SlipKid]

I think object fixation is a major issue. Once you latch your eyes onto something, you tend to ride into it. Then there's rear-wheel panic braking or failure to trust your bike's tires or handling ability. How many noobs have ridden straight off the edge of a corner that they could have easily made with a bit more lean/confidence. Not enough practice on technique and knowing what the bike will do, I guess...

[WildKat]

Improper lane position is one I see alot.

i know you're not trying to single anybody out, but i generally ride wehre i feel comfortable in the lane. i don't really care what the books say. i think its a matter of preferance. just my $.02.

It is a matter of preference, becuz you always wanna be comfortable in where ur riding, as far as distance between vehicles, possible escape routes, etc.

Just always make sure you are visible to as many people as possible, thats the key.

[Dagger969]

Initially...I would say driving a bike like its a car. You dont turn the wheel left at 60mph to go left, lol. I know this sounds very simple to all of us but apparently its not that simple. My roommate just let his buddy ride his bike back from El Magueys and going around a turn he tried to turn the wheel that way and it was all over.